The Crimson Pact
Lin Yue followed Shen Wei through a hidden passage that twisted beneath Xiangcheng's oldest district. The air was damp and cold, carrying the scent of ancient wood and stone, a smell that clung to the city like a memory.
"Where are we going?" Lin Yue asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"To a place few outsiders ever see," Shen Wei replied, his eyes scanning every shadow. "A place where the city's true power lies—and where your bloodline will be tested."
Lin Yue shivered. "Tested… how?"
Shen Wei didn't answer immediately. Instead, he pressed a hand to the carved door of a courtyard hidden behind ivy-covered walls. With a sharp push, the door creaked open, revealing a space lit by dozens of red lanterns swaying in a silent wind.
In the center stood a long, low table, carved from dark wood and engraved with ancient symbols. Around it, figures cloaked in black and red masks observed Lin Yue carefully. Their eyes gleamed in the lantern light, sharp and assessing.
"Welcome," a voice intoned from the shadows. Lin Yue felt it press against her chest like a physical weight. "You have arrived at the heart of Xiangcheng's bloodlines."
Shen Wei stepped closer to her. "These are the elders. They govern the balance of our city. And now, they will decide your place."
Lin Yue's stomach churned. "My place…? I don't belong here!"
One of the masked figures stepped forward. "Belonging is not a choice, girl. It is determined by blood, by destiny, and by courage."
Lin Yue swallowed, her hands clenching at her sides. "I don't even know what I am capable of."
The leader, a tall figure with silver-streaked hair and piercing eyes, lowered his mask. "Then it is time you learn. The crimson moon has marked you. Tonight, you will take the first step into your true life. You will swear the pact of the bloodlines, or you will leave Xiangcheng—and never return."
Lin Yue's gaze flicked to Shen Wei. He nodded slightly, silently urging her to trust him.
"What… what does this pact involve?" she asked, her voice trembling.
The elder's eyes glinted. "Truths, loyalty, and power. You will learn to walk among shadows, to understand the hunters, and to awaken what lies dormant within you. Refusal is a danger the city cannot allow."
Lin Yue felt her heart pound against her ribs. She had been running all her life—from fear, from danger, from uncertainty. Now, standing beneath the crimson lanterns, she realized she had no choice. The city, the bloodlines, and her destiny demanded she step forward.
She drew a deep breath. "I accept," she said, her voice steadying with resolve.
A murmur ran through the figures. The elder nodded solemnly. "So it begins. Welcome to Xiangcheng, Lin Yue. Welcome to the pact of the crimson moon."
Shen Wei's hand brushed hers, a silent reassurance. Lin Yue felt a strange warmth surge through her, a mixture of fear, power, and awakening. The city's shadows seemed to lean closer, as if acknowledging her presence, and somewhere deep inside, she sensed that nothing—no threat, no secret, no betrayal—would ever be the same again.